There is plenty of work to do for Maresca after a shaky season with Chelsea. The Italian manager will look to see who he can offload in the summer to gain more funds for transfers. Here are five players who must go this summer.
1. Robert Sánchez
Sánchez has made some costly errors for the Blues, and it could be time that Chelsea must find a new number-one goalkeeper. Lately, Chelsea has had trouble finding the right keeper, with Kepa Arrizabalaga and Djordje Petrovic both being sent on loan.
But the current number one could find his time with Chelsea coming to a close. Sánchez has only kept 10 clean sheets this season in the Premier League and has condeded 34 goals. He has struggled to perform consistently, but so has Chelsea as a whole.
The Spanish keeper currently sits in a three-way tie for most errors leading to a goal this season, with five. That's a leaderboard he'll wish he was never on top of. Regardless, Chelsea has to find a goalkeeper who is less prone to almost sending fans into panic over his decisions.
2. Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling has made his mark on four of the big six clubs. The English international has been with Chelsea since 2022 but is currently on loan at Arsenal, where he's failed to make an impact.
Sterling hasn't necessarily been bad for Chelsea, but the Blues desperately need to bring in another striker, so selling Sterling would make sense. In his first season with Chelsea, Sterling scored six goals and his second season saw him score eight goals.
Sterling can still be a playmaker, but his injury situation makes him a gamble for Chelsea. He'll also want to find somewhere he can get consistent game time in order to get back into the England squad.
3. Trevoh Chalobah
Chalobah was sent on loan to Crystal Palace at the start of the Premier League season, but he has since been called back to Chelsea. While he is performing well, Chelsea need to bolster their defense and sign another center-back.
Chalobah could fetch a hefty fee for Chelsea, with the young Englishman known for his speed and timely tackles. There is always room for improvement though, and Chalobah will want to work on his passing and dribbling.
After being called up to the England squad for the first time, Chalobah will be keen to make a big impression. His performances for England could see an uptick in popularity for the center back.
4. Ben Chilwell
Another player on loan at Crystal Palace is Ben Chilwell. Maresca believed that Chilwell was a surplus, with Marc Curcurella nailing down his starting spot at left-back.
After a tough spell with Palace, Chilwell will likely move on in the summer and find a new, permanent club. Chilwell expressed his frustrations with Chelsea after finding himself out of the squad, so it's unlikely he'll want to rejoin the team.
There has been interest in Chilwell from other clubs, including Manchester United. Chilwell has struggled with injuries, but he remains a solid option at left-back and could wind up with multiple clubs vying for him.
5. Christopher Nkunku
Nkunku has struggled since coming to Chelsea, and his injuries haven't helped him any. The attacking midfielder has only scored six goals in the Premier League during his time at Chelsea. Maresca needs more options in his attack who are more consistent than players like Sterling and Nkunku.
Nkunku had excelled with RB Leipzig, but unfortunately he has failed to bring the same level to Chelsea. While the midfielder certainly isn't a bust, the best option for him would be to leave the club.
If the rumors are to be believed, Tottenham could be in line to make a loan deal for Nkunku. Other clubs are also attracted to the Frenchman, which could mean there's an interesting transfer battle brewing.